Hong Kong school told to review rules after alleged Cantonese ban in graduation videos

The Hong Kong education authorities have called on a local secondary school to review its rules and regulations after an alleged ban on Cantonese in graduation videos sparked widespread outrage online. The government entity informed the school to assess the event arrangements and ensure effective communication with all parties involved, according to a spokesperson. The Education Bureau stated they would remain in contact with the educational institution to offer guidance and assistance.

The controversy emerged following a viral post on the social media platform Threads, which shared internal presentation records from Good Hope School, a government-funded girls' school in Ngau Chi Wan. The post featured what appeared to be slides titled "Language Standards," stating that classes would mute audio and redo sound effects if Cantonese was detected in voice tracks, while only English and Mandarin were permitted.

Good Hope School principal Gary Harfitt addressed the issue in a follow-up email to students and parents, clarifying that Cantonese was not prohibited at the school. In the email, Harfitt regretted the distribution of an unedited PowerPoint slide to Form Six students that contained inappropriate language. He emphasized the school's recognition of the significance of Cantonese and Mandarin alongside English in their curriculum.

Harfitt took full responsibility for the oversight, stating that the slide's message did not represent the school's actual policy. He also noted that a high school graduation ceremony is a once-in-a-lifetime event and that the school wished to avoid any regrets.